WTB, VP, and Element Case - Interbike 2013

WTB's new Warden is a departure for the Californian brand in that it is likely the most aggressive tire that they have produced to date, with a deep tread pattern and slightly square profile that should allow it to excel in soft conditions. The 2.3" wide tire, which is only available in a single 26" size, was born from WTB's sponsored enduro racers asking for a serious soft conditions option, and its reinforced casing and TCS (Tubeless Compatible System) bead reflect its intentions as a tire that has been designed with burly conditions in mind. It uses a combination of a 60A durometer base for both tread support and reliability, with WTB layering a softer 45A over top to aid traction. As you might expect, the Warden isn't a lightweight race tire, although its 895 gram claimed weight isn't out of line given its intentions.

WTB was also showing off their Vigilante tire, a much more all-around option that they are calling their "premier aggressive all-mountain tire", with it available in a 2.3" width and 26", 650B, and 29" sizes. It uses a relatively open tread pattern laid over a round casing for predictable handling, and WTB offers it with either their 'Gravity' or 'Dual DNA' casing. Weights range from 725 grams for the 26" TCS model, to 985 grams for the Team Issue version in the larger diameter.

The Harrier is VP's new high-end platform pedal that should weigh in at around 380 grams when it hits production this coming January. The idea was to create a large platform size that provides plenty of foot support, but at the same time keep pedal strikes to a minimum by employing a respectably thin body. And at 100mm x 120mm, the Harrier's forged bodies should suit those who have large feet, or riders who simply prefer more real estate underfoot. They also measure in at 12mm, a figure made possible by VP's use of two Igus bushings rather than sealed bearings that would add more volume, with the bushings also meaning that they lack the large inboard bearing bulge that is often present on a pedal as thin as these. A set of

external locking nuts on the outboard end of the axle allow the user to adjust their tension and take up any play that might develop over the long haul, although the display set that we tinkered with had absolutely zero rattle and spun as well or better than any sealed bearing pedal we've ever used. It was so good, in fact, that we never would have guessed that they used bushings rather than bearings! MSRP isn't set in stone quite yet, but VP expects them to retail for around $130 USD.

Nylon pedal bodies are catching on in the 20" world, and some mountain bikers are even beginning to run them as well, but the issue of creating a sturdy pin system has been tricky so far. VP has created a clever design where a sleeve is pushed through the pedal body with pins threaded in from the opposing sides to hold it in place, a layout that looks to a address the reliability problems that usually plague a nylon-bodied pedal. The pins themselves feature a wide base to provide support, and they employ wrench flats that should do a better job of resisting damage than set screw-style pins, making them easier to remove when the time does come to perform some maintenance.

There was more to see than just new platforms at the VP booth, though, with their new range of VX clipless pedals on display as well. The seven pedal lineup includes the Adventure model pictured above that features a burly looking platform surrounding its SPD-compatible mechanism. The 440 gram Adventure spins on two sealed bearings and two LSL (Lightweight Self Lubing) bushings, a setup that sounds like it's more than ready for some seriously wet conditions. Expect them to retail for under $100 USD when they become available this coming January.

Element Case is well known for their high-quality iPhone protection, with their range of cases employing everything from aluminum, titanium, carbon and even wood. They also offer their $219.95 USD Sector 5 Black Ops Elite iPhone 5/5S case with a material called G10 that, according to Element, is "a high-pressure thermoset plastic laminate consisting of multiple layers of woven fiberglass mesh cloth impregnated with an epoxy resin binder." Fancy stuff. It's their new and bike friendly FuseDek system that caught our eye, though, as it allows your iPhone 5 to to attach to your handlebar, stem, and pretty much anywhere else you'd like to have it. The mounting system includes a number of different mounts that can be purchased individually, with the phone, in its case, held within the FuseDek platform and being able to be swapped easily from mount to mount. Why would you want your iPhone mounted on your bike? Live GPS data on the go might be one reason, or if a rider wanted to use their phone to film. Of course, you'll want to have the phone in a sturdy case, which is why the one pictured here is in Element's new $99.95 USD Rouge AL

case. All of the above will only be available for the new iPhone 5 and 5S phones, meaning that iPhone 4 owners are out of luck.

Come to Korea where "Mountain Bikers" aren't doing it right if they don't have their iPhone, iPad, Garmin, 2 bells, an air horn and 3 headlights mounted on the carbon handlebars of their Moots titanium bike....but don't worry, it never goes off road.

Ya hear about the new Garmin helmet cam that links to a garmin computer on the handlebars and automatically uploads to Strava in real time all your climbing and descending, max/min speed, and all that other bullshit. Now we get to see these crazy strava riders, how exciting!!! Shoot me now, please.

I like to map out a new trail when I am in the process of building it which requires the gps to see sunlight. I have found that the mesh pocket on the old camelback does this well enough. Also, I have found you can use the hip clip for an otterbox with a reflector clamp if you really want a handlebar mount. I used mine for an impromptu trail cam with mixed success.

I'm pretty sure Strava makes a Bluetooth HR monitor that's able to pair with your phone. But at that point it becomes a mess between headphones if you use, HR, phone calls, texts, e-mail, music etc... Plus the gps device on your phone sometimes or most of the time is completely inaccurate. I suggest that if you are interested in tracking your progress, save some cash and just buy a nice Garmin 500 with HR and Cadence monitor and the battery lasts as long as 12hrs, while your phone will die in 2, and you can upload later to strava or Garmin connect when done. I do believe you should not be messing with your phone while riding, but it doesn't hurt to keep it in your Camelpack, just in case of an emergency.

here is an idea. how about we all get over ourselves and just have fun. i know we all like to say look what i have done about every single thing in our lives. but is it really necessary. if you train to win races then fair enough use a gps for that, but for the rest of us its just a distraction from having fun. think of it this way, when was the last time you looked at your mates gps data and gave a f*ck about it? well i hate to break it to you, but thats probably the same thoughts they have about your gps data.

its for people who cant afford to drop 3-4 hundred on a garmin and want more than a basic cycle computer for XC, AM, and road. get over your self if you really think they designed it for DH, its a bike show, they are showcasing a product, place it on the shiniest bike they could find to put in the booth.

I love the size, but they look like zero concave to me... Been riding the e13s for a year now and they rule, I'll take an extra 2 mm of thickness for some concave, plus the e13s are plastic on the outside.

lol @ phone case. I wonder when we are going to see tablet case Btw. attaching you smartphone to DH bike is really smart... not. I always took my old nokia when i go riding. It's almost indestructable and more then enough to call friends/emergency.

Totally. Sometimes I carry my iPhone on rides if I know I'll need to regularly access maps or GPS, but only if it's in its Otterbox. Learned an expensive lesson on this already. The new Otterbox Armor case is bomber.

$200+ for a phone case?!? Sorry, but I'll go with the other commentators and buy a cheap, second-hand beater phone to throw in my bag for emergencies. The only use I can see is for people bike touring or racing multi-day, self-supported routes on dirt roads and trails where they need to navigate a complicated route for several days in all kinds of treacherous weather.

Anyone who carries a pocket knife should know what G10 is. They try to make it sound soooo cool and new stuff, but really its the same ol G10 that companies like Kershaw and Benchmade have been using for their higher level knife handles for like forever.
It would make a great phone case though, and can come in any color you want.

I put my iPhone on my XC bike. When doing Trans Rockies last year I found it very handy to know how much elevation was left on the climbs when I was totally out of gas. It was my GPS, bike computer, and HR monitor all rolled in to one (via bluetooth). It was also nice for checking distance to the finish and how long you were riding for. While it didn't have to be on my bars, it was easier to reference without having to stop and dig it out of a pocket or pack. Everything else it tracks is more for curiosity (top speed, average speed). It does have it's uses, but I would agree with the others, not on a DH bike. If you really wanted to use your phone to track your distance and speed for DH, putting it in your pack where it has some padding makes more sense.

It looks like they bought the old Muddy Mary moulds to me and filled in one of the rows of knobs between the centre and edges. Dead set rip off.. and why not? The MM is a bloody good tyre. Haven't tried the Magic Mary yet but I bet they are better... and also better at wearing out in a single day.

The design is definitely derived from the Dampf even if the tread pattern is different. Everything from the carcass shape to the knob profiles are the same. Schwalbe got it so right, now everyone wants a bit of the pie.

What ever drugs you guys are taking to see that tyre as a hans dampf rip off are much stronger than what I'm taking , it's clearly a muddy mary rip off , if it's priced right and the compounds are good i'll give them a go.

in the lbs they have the sweet seat bag and bar bag that i want. i want to do over night rides big loops with simple camping. the bag systems are all displayed on a touring bike the bike has a damn growler mount so you can haul your growler of beer aroung kind of stupid

Props to WTB for providing a 26" only tire and a range that also covers all 3 sizes cheers guys girls lest you are listening to us and the tires look good too on paper, quite like to try that new Warden in some sloppy conditions!

People who rode with an Iphone ON the bike like that stay the fook away from me! Im out to ride not fook spiders on my "i" something! Anyone brings a mobile on my ride, I make them turn it off and it goes in the bakpak and stays their, you're not ruining my ride by wan*ing off with a phone ringing on my ride!

Mobiles stay home, even better still the w*****ers that ride with them have them on or with the ear pods in them stay home and fook spiders!

I like the plastic pedals. good for xc not for dh. The phone holder???????? seriously. If I wanted my friends to laugh there ass off,I would show up with a phone attached to my handle bars. Ultimate dork device. Ohhhh you can buy just the camera case for just a hundred bucks. I paid a buck for my 500 dollar smart phone.